Essential Ansible Vault Commands You Should Know

Ansible Vault is a powerful tool that enhances the security of your Ansible playbooks by allowing you to encrypt sensitive information. Managing sensitive data such as passwords, API keys, and other confidential details is crucial in IT operations. In this article, we will delve into the essential Ansible Vault commands that every user should be familiar with.

Getting Started with Ansible Vault

1. Creating a New Encrypted File:
   To create a new encrypted file, use the following command:

   ansible-vault create filename.yml
   

   This command opens the file in the default text editor, allowing you to add and encrypt sensitive data.

2. Encrypting an Existing File:
   If you have an existing file that needs encryption, use the following command:

   ansible-vault encrypt filename.yml
   

   This will encrypt the entire file, making it secure against unauthorized access.

3. Editing an Encrypted File:
   To edit an encrypted file, use the command:

   ansible-vault edit filename.yml
   

   This opens the file in the default text editor, decrypting it temporarily for editing and encrypting it back when saved.

Managing Vault Passwords

4. Changing Vault Password:
   To change the password of an encrypted file, use the following command:

   ansible-vault rekey filename.yml
   

   This command prompts you to enter the old password and then set a new one.

5. Encrypting a String:
   Encrypting a string directly without using a file is possible using:

   ansible-vault encrypt_string 'your_secret_string'
   

   This is useful when you want to store a secret in a playbook without exposing it in the source code.

Using Encrypted Files in Playbooks

6. Running a Playbook with Vault:
   To run a playbook that uses encrypted files, use the command:

   ansible-playbook --ask-vault-pass your_playbook.yml
   

   This prompts you to enter the Vault password before executing the playbook.

7. Specifying Vault Password File:
   You can specify a file containing the Vault password using:

   ansible-playbook --vault-password-file=path/to/password-file your_playbook.yml
   

   This is useful in automated workflows.

Best Practices and Advanced Usage

8. Viewing Encrypted File Content:
   To view the content of an encrypted file without editing it, use:

   ansible-vault view filename.yml
   

   This is helpful for reviewing sensitive data without making changes.

9. Decrypting a File:
   If you need to decrypt a file for some reason, use:

   ansible-vault decrypt filename.yml
   

   Keep in mind that this exposes sensitive information, so use it cautiously.

Mastering Ansible Vault commands is essential for securing sensitive information in your infrastructure automation. Whether you're creating encrypted files, managing passwords, or integrating Vault with your playbooks, these commands are your key to maintaining a robust and secure IT environment.